Automatic milking barn

ABSTRACT

A herringbone milking parlor having automatic controls for preparation and movement of milking cows, stall adjusting means for accommodating cows of different size in a single herringbone stall, and a swinging sector gate for transferring a group of cows in sequence from a group of preparation stalls to a herringbone milking stall.

United States Patent [191 Holm [ Jan. 8, 1974 1 AUTOMATIC MlLKlNG BARN[75] Inventor: William Z. Holm, Petaluma, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Ross-Holm Division, Holm Tractor & Equipment Company,Petaluma,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1973 [2]] App]. No.: 321,302

Related US. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 226,220, Feb. 14,1972, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 62,714, Aug. 10, 1970, Pat.No. 3,699,922, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 730,818, May 2],1968, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 119114.03, 119/27, 119/51 R [51] Int. Cl A01k 05/02 [58]Field of Search ..1.l9/14.03, 27, 51 R [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,969,039 1/1961 Golay 119/1403 3,246,631 I 4/1966 Holm119/1403 Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney-James M. Naylor eta1.

[57] ABSTRACT A herringbone milking parlor having automatic controls forpreparation and movement of milking cows, stall adjusting means foraccommodating cows of different size in a single herringbone stall, anda swinging sector gate for transferring a group of cows in sequence froma group of preparation stalls to a herringbone milking stall.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 3.783.830

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PATENTEU JAN 81974 SHEET 2 0F 4 PATENTED JAN 74 SHEET 3 0F 4 m H LHHHPATENTED JAN 8 4 sum u or 4 mm WUHHHH AUTOMATIC MILKING BARN Thisinvention relates to improvements in automatic milking barns whereby alarge herd of cows can be automatically prepared and milked in smallgroups of a predetermined number which can be swiftly handled by asingle man.

In some situations, it is desirable to prepare and milk cows in smallgroups rather than individually. The herringbone type of parlor is moresuitable for the automated movement of groups of cows in the milkingarea. Here several of the disadvantages of the herringbone parlor arecorrected by my novel invention. The arrangement in this inventionprovides an integration of fixed automatic and variable automaticequipment to optimum advantage. This arangement permits a singleoperator to milk large herds without sacrificing the individualattention required at certain points in the milking procedure.

In the preferred form of my invention, the apparatus shown in my priorHolm US. Pat. No. 3,246,631 may be employed in the preparation stages ofthe presently disclosed arrangement and the apparatus shown in Clegg US.Pat. Nos. 2,886,000; 2,888,034; 2,949,883; and 2,966,800, may beemployed in the actual operation of milking the cow. 7

Preparation and prefeeding is done simultaneously for all cows in agroup. The actual process of preparation is automatically performed atthe optimum time before milking such that the cows entering the milkingbanks are fully prepared for the milking claw.

Other features and advantages of this automated milking barn will becomeapparent from the following description read in conjunction with theattached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a double herringbone milking parlorconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating three alternative positions of thegate-manger structure indicated by the circle labeled 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an alternative form of thestructure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the swinging gate illustrated at4-4 in FIG. 1; and,

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a schematic wiring diagram of the controls for theapparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, thebarn illustrated has a single operators pit l0 servicing two banks 12and 14 of milking stalls. Individual milking stalls, 1 through 4, arediagonally positioned along each side of the operators pit to form aherringbone-type milking parlor. When cows are at the milking stalls 1to 4, their hind quarters are directed diagonally toward the operatorspit 10 enabling a single operator side access to the udders of the cowsin both banks 12 and 14. A curb l6 surrounding the pit 10 prevents thecows from accidentally slipping into the pit 10.

The cows are confined in their stalls 1 to 4 by a guide fence 18 alongthe edge of the operators pit 10, a milking-bank exit gate 20, whichwhen closed aligns the cow in stall 1 to a proper milking position, aswinging wedge gate 22, which crowds the cow in stall 4 to the propermilking position, and a novel fence and manger apparatus 24 along theouter edge of the stall banks 12 and l4.

Each fence and manger structure 24 includes stationary alignment fences28 and swinging portions 30 pivotally mounted thereon, which partiallypivot about the extremity 32 of the alignment fence 28. This action ismore clearly represented in FIG. 2. A manger 26 is attached to theextremity 34 of the swinging portion 30 of the fence in such a mannerthat it can pivot about this point of attachment. The manger 26 can beSwung into feeding position, A or C, or withdrawn to a position outsidethe stall, B, away from the reach of the cows. When used in cooperationwith the swinging portion 30 of the fence, the manger 26 can effectivelyadjust the length of a particular stall to suit the length of theindividual cow. Since the hindquarters of the cow should be as close tothe operators pit 10 as possible for convenient access to the udder, ashort cow may be crowded back by positioning the manger 26 and/orswinging portion of the fence 24 as illustrated in position C, FIG. 2.The standard feeding position before adjustment for the individual cowwould be position A, FIG. 2. Both the swinging portions 30 of the fenceand the mangers 26 may be controlled by small hydraulic piston systems38 and 39, respectively, exemplified in position C, FIG. 2.

Feed is automatically dispensed in the mangers 28 on initial entry ofthe cows in the stalls and thereafter it is individually dispensedresponsive to the quantity of milk given. Such increments may becontrolled in response to the operation of the above-mentioned Cleggapparatus so that heavy milkers are given extra feed. Since such feedingmethod is known in the art, it is illustrated in the drawings onlyschematically.

An alternate to the swinging fence arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 3.The swinging portion 30 of the fence is replaced by a feed tube 30 thatcan pivot about the end of a feed hopper 27 rigidly mounted on the fence28. The manger embodiment functions in the same manner as the swingingfence arrangement and can effectively adjust the length of each milkingstall. The mechanics of adjustment in both embodiments can beaccomplished by small hydraulic piston systems 38 as illustrated inposition C of FIG. 2.

Prior to entry in the milking parlor, the cows are washed and preparedin the manner described in my US. Pat. No. 3,246,631. In the presentinvention, the cows are prepared in groups rather than individually. Thegroupsmay be of any number, but it has been found that a single operatorin the milking area can most conveniently handle four cowspTherefore,four preparation stalls 40 are provided in this invention tosimultaneously wash and prepare four cows. The preparation stalls 40 arepreferably arranged in parallel. Pre-preparation stalls 42 may beprovided in which the cows may be washed. As the optimum time formilking a cow after preparation is usually about 1 minute, the washingand preparation cycle does not begin until the cows in one bank, 12 or14, have completed milking. Cows may be prepared in the manner describedin my above-mentioned patent or by an equivalent spray of warm water orair on the cow's udder to stimulate a letdown just prior to milking. Thepreparation of the group of cows in the four stalls 40 may also be donein a staggered sequential manner where the cows are transferredsequentially from the stalls 40 to the milking stall so that optimumpreparation time is attained for each cow, the last cow to betransferred to the milking stall being stimulated to let-down somewhatlater than the first cow transferred.

The entrance gas 44 to the preparation stalls 40 are operated byspring-loaded vacuum rams 46. The rams are constructed to bespring-loaded toward a gate closing position and operated by hydraulicsto open the gates. The two entrance gates 44 to each preparation stallare interconnected by crank arms 48 and a link 50, and the vacuum ram 46is connected to one of the crank arms 48 for opening the gates 44.

The preparation stall exit is blocked by a combination swing fence andprefeed mount. This swinging frame sector 52, also illustrated in FIG.4, has a front shield 54 forming an arc of approximately 90 for fourpreparation stalls. Mounted at the base of the front shield 54 at aposition in front of each preparation stall 40 is a feed bowl 56.

A shield 58 projects forwardly from the preparation stalls 40 at theprefeed end above the bowls 56 such that a cow will not tend to followthe bowl 56 after it passes under the shield 58. Feed is automatically.dispensed into each bowl via a feed chute 60 from a feed hopper 62mounted high on the frame section 52. Feed is dispensed to the fourbowls 56 by a single vacuum cylinder 64 operating four interconnectedslide strokers 66 which dispense an amount of feed in relation to thelength of stroke of the slide stokers 66. The feed dispenser may, ofcourse, be modified by having each slide stroker 66 individuallyoperated by its own vacuum cylinder and manual override controls may beprovided to deenergize one cylinder when a corresponding stall is empty.

The frame sector 52 slowly swings about a pivot post 72 when it isnecessary for the cows to leave the preparation stalls 40 and enter abank, 12 or 14 of the herringbone milking parlor. Each preparation stall40 is thereby opened in succession permitting the cows to singly enterthe vacant bank 12 or 14 of milking stalls. The direction of swing isautomatically regulated by a signal received from the emptying bank ofmilking stalls.

The frame sector 52 operated by hydraulic rams 74 and 75, swingsapproximately 90 away from the milking bank that is empty, pauses untilall preparation stalls 40 are empty and then swings back to homeposition. The sector frame may thereafter be rotated an additional 90 inthe reverse directioncrowding the cows into the bank that had previouslybeen empty and then returns to its home position in front of the prepstalls, completing a full cycle.

A stationary restraining fence 76 may be placed around the pivot post 72to create a narrow passageway from the preparation stalls 40 to the openmilking bank 12 or 14, so that the cows leaving the preparation stalls40 must move in single file.

The milking bank exit gates 20 and swinging wedge gates 22 are eachoperated by a vacuum ram, 78 and 80, similar to the vacuum ram 46 usedin the preparation stalls 40.

The vacuum rams 47, 78 and 80 are operated by solenoid valves (indicatedby corresponding numerals and the letter a" in FIG. by which each ram isoperated to open its gate when an electric current operates a solenoidvalve connecting the ram to a source of vacuum. The swinging framesector 52 is controlled by rams 74 and 75 which will swing frame 52 inthe manner described above. The rams 74 and 75 are controlled bysolenoid valves 74a and 74b and a and 75b with valves 74a and 75acausing the rams to expand and valves 74b and 75b causing the rams tocontract.

Turning more specifically to the schematic diagram of FIG. 5, theelectrical operation can be described most efficiently by following themilking cycle for a group of cows. It must be noted that the cycle isnot continuous, but broken. The single operator continues each cycle byplacing the milking claws of the abovementioned Clegg apparatus on thecows teats. This step is not automated as it is desirable to permit theoperator to inspect the cows udder, dry and prime each teat, andmanually place the milking claw on the cow.

In the dead position prior to the milking period, the entrance gates 44to the preparation stalls would be closed and the frame sector 52 wouldbe in the home position in front of the preparation stall exits. Thus,on activating the system, the entrance gates 44 to the preparationstalls are opened by activation of the solenoid valves 46a for thevacuum rams 46. Cows from a corral area 82 or washing stalls 42 enterthe preparation stalls 40. Each of the preparation stalls has anelectrical sensing switch 84 near the exit to the stall. These switches84 may take any suitable form for sensing the presence and/or absence ofa cow in the stall. Here these switches are indicated as photo-electriccells, but they may be replaced by switches operated by wands whichproject into the stall, or by treadles on the floor of the stallwhichopen switches when a cow walks into the stall.

Each of the sensing switches 84 operates a relay 86 to a circuit whichis not completed until all four sensing switches 84 have thrown theirrespective relays 86. It is apparent that only when all four preparationstalls 40 are filled, will the next circuit be complete to activate thenext step. Since there will occasionally be times when less than allpreparation stalls 40 are filled, such as when the last group in a herdhas less than four cows, a manual override switch 68 will complete thecircuit to begin the preparation cycle. When the four preparation stalls40 are filled or the override switch 68 is thrown, the entrace gates 44to the preparation stalls close when the solenoid valves 46a are shut bydeactivator 46a. Also, at this time, the prefeed let-down valve 64a isactivated to operate ram 64 and discharge a predetermined amount of feedinto the feed bowls 56, and a 2 minute wash and prep timer 90 isactivated to begin the preparation of the cow for milking as describedin my-U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,631. Both the prepreparation washing and thepreparation let-down stimulation may be done in the preparation stalls40, dispensing with a separate stall for each operation. Completion ofthe 2 minute timer cycle causes an electrical signal to be sent to thecounter switches 92 and 94. The counter switches 92 and 94 close acircuit when four cows have left a bank 12 or 14. A channel selector 96is used in combination with the counter switches 92 and 94 such thatwhen both banks are empty the first to empty will be the first to filland the counter switch for the other bank will hold until a second groupof cows has finished in the preparation stalls 40 and is ready to enterthe milking banks 12 and 14. It may be necessary to have manual overrideswitches 98a to activate this step in the milking operation if in theprevious herd the last group to be milked contained fewer than fourcows. When the counter switch 92 closes the circuit in, for example, theleft bank 14, the

signal developed from the two minute timer 90 activates the following: awedge gate solenoid valve 80a, opening the entrance to the left bank; anexit gate solenoid valve 78a, simultaneously closing the exit gate 20 tothe milking bank 14, a manger solenoid valve 98, hydraulically movingthe mangers 26 into feeding position, relay 99 controlling the swingingof the frame sector 52 to the right.

The swinging of the frame sector 52 must be considered in detail. In ourexample, the left bank 14 is open. The frame sector 52, therefore, firstslowly swings to the right allowing the cows in each of the preparationstalls 40 to be released separately. This swinging is caused byexpansion of ram 74 with valve 74a open and valves 74b and 75a and 75bvented. The frame swings approximately 90 until it hits a mechanicalstop. As soon as one of the prep stallS 40 empties, one of the relays 86opens removing power from the relay 99, and the sector frame 52 remainsin its position until all of the relays 86 open. At this point, both ofthe valves 74b and 75b are opened (74a and 75a vented) to cause bothrams 75 to contract until the gate reaches a centered home position withrams 74 and 75 exerting balanced torque on the sector frame 52.

Additionally, a second delay timer 104 is activated through relay 105after 10 seconds, permitting feed to be dispensed to the manger 26 install 1 of the left bank by activating the feed let-down valve 106 forstall 1. The delay is to insure that the mangers 26 are in place whenthe feed is let down. Feed is supplied by apparatus similar to that inFIG. 4, but with each manger individually supplied. The initialallotment is automatic, additional feed is supplied to the cow inrelation to the weight of milk given as described above. Since the cowsmust be positioned in individual stalls when they enter the bank 14, .itis desirable that the first cow entering, not stop at the closest mangerto feed, but proceed to stall 1. Therefore, feed is dispensed to stall 1first. When a cow positions herself in stall 1, an electrical sensingswitch 108, similar to the sensing switches 84 employed in thepreparation stalls 40, closes causing the feed let-down valve 106a forstall 2 to be activated. This procedure continues until all mangers havefeed. The last sensing switch 108 in stall 4 deactivates the solenoidvalve 80a to the wedge gate, closing the gate 80 and crowding the cow install 4 into a milking position. Relay 105 is held selfenergized until alimit switch on gate 22 opens when the gate closes. This sensing switch108 also activates the solenoid valve 46a to open the entrance gates 44to the preparation stalls 40 to receive another group of cows. Aseparate circuit (not shown) individually controls the position of eachmanger 26 for long or short cows as previously described and is operatedfrom a control console 110 in the operators pit 10. In some situations,a single control is used to operate all four feed dispensing devices forthe four stalls of one bank simultaneously with closing of the wedgegate 22. This arrangement simplifies the controls substantially, butdoes not have the advantage of urging the cows into milking positionwith waiting feed.

It is at this point in the cycle that the cows are given individualattention by the operator. After inspection and priming, the milkingclaw is placed on the cow which again begins the automated cycle.

In one example, we followed the first group in a herd through themilking cycle. When both milking banks 12 and 14 are filled, the cows inthe preparation stalls 40 must await completion of milking on one of thebanks before the preparation cycle will begin.

In a maximum automated barn, the cows are automatically stripped by amodification to the Clegg apparatus described in my US. Pat. No.3,246,631. After the cow stops giving milk, which is indicated by apulse counter 112, the auto-stripper valve 114 for that cow isactivated. After a twenty second delay provided by a timer 116, amilking vacuum shut-off valve 118 and a pull-off valve 120 are operated.In addition, the signal from the timer 116 closes a relay switch 122 forthat stall. When all four relay switches 122 in a bank are closed acircuit is completed sending a signal to the solenoid valve 78a of themilking bank exit gate and to the sensing switches 84 of the preparationstalls. If all four preparation stalls 40 are filled, a preparationcycle will begin. Additionally, the signal from relays 122 is connectedto channel selector 96 so that subsequent energization of the sectorgate causes the sector gate to rotate in the proper direction.

The preparation cycle will therefore not begin until cows are about toleave one of the milking banks 12 or 14. Since a preparation cycletakesl to 2 minutes, there is adequate time for the cows that have completedtheir milking cycle to leave the milking bank before the cows in thepreparation stalls are ready to enter.

Although the signal to the sensing switches 84 to begin a preparationcycle could be sent by the counter switch circuit when all cows haveleft the milking bank, 12 or 14, the preferred method previouslydescribed provides a fuller utilization of the barn and somewhatshortens the cows stay in the preparation stalls 40.

In many areas of the control system it is desirable to provide manualoverride switches located on the console in order that the operator canquickly adjust the systems for any irregularity that may develop. Forsimplicity of illustration, however, these override switches are notillustrated.

I have illustrated and described herein one specific arrangement foremploying my invention in a herringbone milking parlor. Obviously, manyvariations may be made in the structures shown and the controls shownfor those structures. The specific arrangement illustrated above isintended merely as one example, and is not intended as any limitation onthe scope of the invention as more broadly defined in the followingclaim.

I claim:

1. A milking barn comprising a group milking stall with an entrance,said milking stall including a cow station relatively remote withrespect to said entrance and a cow station relatively adjacent withrespect to said entrance, a feed manger in said each station, and meansfor depositing feed in the remote manger, sensing the presence of a cowin said remote station and for depositing feed in the adjacent manger,whereby a cow is induced to pass said adjacent station and move to theremote station.

1. A milking barn comprising a group milking stall with an entrance,said milking stall including a cow station relatively remote withrespect to said entrance and a cow station relatively adjacent withrespect to said entrance, a feed manger in said each station, and meansfor depositing feed in the remote manger, sensing the presence of a cowin said remote station and for depositing feed in the adjacent manger,whereby a cow is induced to pass said adjacent station and move to theremote station.